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The directive principle of living is not 'Living on others' or 'Living by killing' but 'Living with others', or Live for others (Parasparopagraho Jivanam). Though in our worldly life complete non-violence is not possible yet our motto should be 'Lesser violence is better Living'. It is not the struggle but co-operation is the law of life. I need other's co-operation for my very existence and so I should also co-operate in other's living.
MEANING OF NON-VIOLENCE
The term non-violence (Ahimsa) has various connotations. Generally it means not to kill, slay or hurt any living being. Ahimsa means abstention or refraining from Himsa. Himsa means violence, injury, harm, deprivation, mutilation, disfigurement and causing pain and suffering to others. In Tattvärthasūtra, the term violence is defined as to hurt the vitalities of a living being through the operation of intense passion infected activity of mind, body and speech. This definition of Himsa covers two aspects external and internal. In Jainism, violence is considered of two types Dravya Himsa and Bhava Himsa.The act of harming or hurting is Dravya Himsa i.e. external violence and the intention to hurt or to kill is Bhava Himsa i.e. internal violence. There is a causal relation between Dravya Himsa and Bhava Himsa. Generally, Dravya Himsa caused by entertaining impure or passionate thought activities such as anger, pride, deceit, greed, sorrow, fear, sex-desire etc. An outer act of hurting others vitalities if proceedes by impure thought activity i.e. ill-will then it really becomes on act of violence. On the basis of Dravya and Bhava Himsa we have four alternatives of violence (1) both intention and act of killing (2) only there is an intention of killing, not the act of killing. (3) act of killing minus intention of
243 Jainism and its History
